Salt: Saves Your Dollars & Reputation
Rob Thibault
If you find yourself saying "it is going to freeze in the middle of the night, but it will be fine by the time anyone arrives", or "it's barely even supposed to snow" – be very careful!
A prime example of this type of thinking relates to the newly completed Port Mann Bridge. There were 40 cars involved in accidents between 5-6 am. The bridge had iced up at approximately 5 am that morning because the brine (a liquid salt solution) that the contractors had spread more than 24 hours earlier dissipated due to heavy traffic.
The ensuing series of accidents shut down the bridge and delayed hundreds (if not thousands) from getting to work for several hours. Add on top of that the large cost of insurance claims! It's clear that some money was saved by not de-icing the bridge that morning, but what was the true cost including everyone’s time, energy, money, and safety? This is an extreme example, but it's not far-fetched as it did happen in Surrey BC, which is only 15 minutes away from Vancouver, and both cities are within our service area.
It's commonly thought that snow removal is the more important service to have, but that's not the case in the Lower Mainland. We get much more ice (black ice) than snow out here on the West Coast, therefore it is much more important to treat the ice and melting snow piles. If an area has been correctly salted before a snowfall - it will melt up to 1" of fresh snow and eliminate the opportunity for the snow to become compact and slippery.
Simply put, de-icing is not nearly as effective AFTER the rain freezes or the snow falls. If your site has steep inclines or awkward grades you might also want to include sand/grit for additional traction. Request a quote from us, and we will advise you as to what the best product for your site is, and how it works to limit your liability for any injuries.
The last thing you want is for a customer or employee to slip and injure themselves in any way. Bear in mind that the total cost of an accident is not always immediately apparent. WorkSafe BC estimates the average indirect costs of an accident to be as much as four times the direct costs.
Winter is very short out here. Don't dread it, or pay for it all year because of a preventable claim.